Sunday, December 27, 2009

I was given this photo by Sally J. Conlin who believes it to be either Martin John Conlin (1828-1896), the Irishman in a previous post, or his son Michael Conlin (1866-1936). I am thrilled to have the photo regardless of who it is. It would be especially nice to know for sure though! It may be possible to narrow down the date if I focus on the photographer J.C. Gardner.

I found a Johnson C Gardner in the 1900 and 1910 Brookfield, Linn County, Missouri census' with the occupation of a photographer born in Pennsylvania about 1844. His wife was Elizabeth born 1850 in Pennsylvania. I did not find Johnson in the 1880 census, however there was a Steven C Gardner born in Pennsylvania about 1844 with photography as an occupation. His wife was listed as Elizabeth born in 1850 in Pennsylvania.

With the time-line information on the photographer, it is possible that the photograph could be of either Martin or Michael. I was hoping to rule out one or the other, but that doesn't appear to be the case here. More research to do!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Martin John Conlin walked the earth for 68 years, 46 of those were in the United States. The first 22 years were in Roscommon Ireland and it is information from those years that I seek.

I have a Declaration of Naturalization and a marriage record that places Martin in Cuyahoga County Ohio from about 1852 to 1856. I have census records that place Martin in Mexico, Audrain County, Missouri in 1860. The remainder of Martins life is spent in Linn County Missouri where he rests today in St. Michael's Cemetery in Brookfield.

The Last Will & Testament of Martin gives little information, everything is left to his wife, Ellen McGowan, whom he married in 1856 in Cleveland, Ohio. Martin's obituary states that he was one of the oldest residents of Brookfield and that he worked for the railroad. In all the accumulated documents and family stories passed down, there is no mention of Martin's family in Roscommon. There is no mention of parents, brothers or sisters. Without a family to tie him to how do I find the right Martin Conlin born in December 1828 in Roscommon Ireland?

My first step will be to search for other possible records that may have been created during Martin's life in the United States. Church records, land records and his Declaration of Intent to become a US citizen are first on my list to search. The next items that may shed some light are documents of Martin's descendants. Martin had three sons and one daughter, John, Thomas, Michael and Mary Ellen. While I have some information on each, there is still more to be found.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Home for the holidaysI believe I've missed each and every faceCome on and play my musicLet's turn on every love light in the place

It's time I found myselfTotally surrounded in your circlesWhoa, my friends

Please, celebrate me homeGive me a number,Please, celebrate me homePlay me one more songThat I'll always rememberAnd I can recallWhenever I find myself all aloneI can sing me home

Uneasy highwayTravelin where the Westerly winds can flySomebody tried to tell meBut the men forgot to tell me why

I gotta count on being goneCome on woman, come on daddyBe what you want from meI'm this strong I'll be weak

Please, celebrate me homeGive me a numberPlease, celebrate me homePlay me one more songThat I'll always rememberI can recallWhenever I find myself too all aloneI can make believe I've never goneI never know where I belongSing me home

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